Virtuous Woman - Serving & TeamworkSample

Beauty

Character Goal: Beauty is the inner quality of unfading faith and trust in God that leads to a quiet and gentle spirit.

Biblical Characters: Sarai

Scripture Readings: Genesis 12:1, 4–5, 10–20; 1 Peter 3:3–6

Discussion Questions:

• How is Sarai described?
• What does Abram ask Sarai to do after they enter Egypt? Why?
• How did Pharaoh and his officials respond when they saw Sarai? What happened to her?
• What did the Lord do to Pharaoh and his officials because he had taken Sarai into his palace? What does this tell us about God?
• What did Pharaoh realize as a result of the disease God inflicted on them? What did he do?
• Read 1 Peter 3:3–6. What kind of influence can godly behavior have on people who do not obey the Word?
• Where should our beauty come from?
• How have you seen beauty demonstrated on the court or playing field?
• What kind of beauty does God value?
• The passage does not say that we cannot wear jewelry, fine clothes, gold, or ornate hairstyles, but that those things should not be the things that make us beautiful. How does this differ from where the world tells us our beauty should come from?
• Which women of the past adorned themselves with inner beauty?
• Who does Scripture point to as an example of this type of beauty?
• What characteristics did she possess? Why do you think these things made her beautiful?
• Men may initially recognize physical beauty, but, from this passage, what is it that continues to endear them to their wives over time?
• Although inner beauty is what is most important, God does desire for us to take care of our outward appearance as well. As female athletes, how can we incorporate both inner and outer beauty into our lives? How can it influence those around us?
• What does this story teach you about God? His Word? Women? How can you apply these truths to your life?
• What does this story teach us about God? Women? How can I apply these truths to my life before the next lesson?

Training for Godliness

We don’t always look very beautiful when we are competing. We pull our hair back, wear no makeup, and get sweaty. While our outside may not look all that great during games and practices, remember the story is talking about an inner beauty. What are some attributes of women you know who have an inner beauty? Write three of those attributes down and ask God to help you seek out ways you can incorporate them into your life. Find evidence of those attributes in Scripture and commit them to memory so you will remember what is most important. When you think of the women you know who possess those attributes, do you appreciate them more for what they look like or who they are? How does this apply to you?

Core Truths:

• True beauty stems from a godly attitude.
• The only beauty that continues to increase over time is inner beauty.
• God desires for us to glorify Him in both our inner and outer beauty.

Memory Verse: “She makes her own bed coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple.” Proverbs 31:22